A Pound of Feathers

Feet sinking into the sand

Knees trembling

Eyes darting

Cautious enough to know

That what I carry seems

Harmless

But it pulls me under

Below the tide

They point towards me

Disappointment staring me down

As I hold my breath

Trying not to stumble

Under the weight

of a pound of feathers

Compared

Unfairly

to those praised for carrying

A pound of bricks